OOCL has placed an order for 14 container vessels, each with a capacity of 18,500 TEU, at shipyards owned by its parent company, Cosco Shipping.
The order was announced by Cosco Shipping Holding, the controlling shareholder, with the vessels contracted at Dalian Cosco KHI Ship Engineering and Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering.
The cost of each vessel is approximately $220 million, with deliveries scheduled between the third quarter of 2028 and the third quarter of 2029.
The vessels will feature methanol dual-fuel propulsion, a choice that has recently lost some favour compared to LNG due to concerns about the availability of green methanol in the coming years.
Despite this, much of the anticipated production of green methanol is expected to take place in China, which could support OOCL’s decision.
According to Cosco Shipping Holding, the construction of these new vessels is intended to strengthen its position in the global shipping industry while advancing its container shipping business globalisation strategy.
The company emphasised that the addition of these ships will enable a more balanced development of its global service network, enhancing its core competitiveness in both traditional and emerging markets.
